If you are like most people, you are tired of those papers you get in the mail offering lots of coupons and discounts. But if you want to save money, that’s just the first place you need to look. There are plenty of places to get coupons; in fact, there is a lot you need to know about couponing. Here are just a few smart ideas.
Using coupons to save money on your grocery bills is a great idea and every Sunday in the newspaper there are lots of them. Sometimes if there are a lot of coupons for items you use frequently, you may want to purchase an additional Sunday paper for the extra coupons.
Use many coupons on an item if possible. You can purchase many more products by using many different coupons. You can amass a supply of your commonly used items. If you use pasta sauce weekly, and you have six coupons, use them all at once to save money.
The best way to keep all of your coupons in order is to buy some plastic inserts and keep them in a binder. You can buy different sizes of plastic pouches and perhaps keep them in categories this way. You can organize it. However, will be easiest for you to get through.
One day each week, go “couponing.” This should make the matter more effective. Try to spend a good amount of time researching and clipping to make the most of your couponing efforts.
Join a deal forum. You can find hundreds of different online locations created for the sole purpose of coupons and saving money. Forums are great for finding coupons because you can see which ones work from comments of other users. You can also print out these coupons to use in your favorite stores.
Make sure you understand and print off coupon policies for your local stores. Walmart, for example, has a printable coupon policy. Keep them in your coupon organizer for handy usage. On occasion, a cashier may not know the corporate policies for their stores, and having the policy may help you get the leg up in a disagreement.
Request all the free sample offers you can find. Not only will you get the free sample in the mail, but often times you’ll receive a coupon for the item as well. Coupons that come with free samples tend to be higher value than others, so you’ll get a great sample and a great deal!
Learn a store’s policy for using coupons. Some stores limit the number and type of coupons you can use. Before you cause a commotion and ask to speak to the manager, learn about your rights as a customer. It can save you a lot of time and trouble if you do a quick overview of store policy.
When you get to the checkout area, ensure that the coupons you use will properly scan. It is shocking to learn that lots of coupons fail to scan, due to problems with the store computer or the coupon itself. Carefully watch your cashier scan your coupons and watch the screen to make sure they went through.
If you carry a loyalty card for a particular store, check the store’s website for coupons. Many retailers offer manufacturer’s coupons on their website and allow you to download them to your card. Your stored coupons are automatically deducted when the cashier swipes your card at the cash register.
Always keep a copy of the store’s policy with you. If you run into trouble and are told that you can’t make a certain transaction, simply get out the policy and go through it with the employee. Make sure that you don’t lose your temper, either. The only way you will get the situation resolved is if you remain patient and kind.
A good coupon tip you should use is to do all of your shopping at the end of the month. Most stores have it so that their coupons expire at the end of the month. Shopping during this time will make it more convenient for you to get the best deals.
Make sure that you pay close attention the expiration date on coupons you are interested in using. If you save them for too long, you may miss the opportunity to use them. It is a good idea to set a reminder in your calendar about a week or two before it expires.
Before you buy anything, look for a coupon. Oftentimes, there are coupons available online that are not advertised elsewhere. Use a search engine to see if there is a coupon you can print for that next purchase. Do this even if that purchase is small. Even the small savings add up quickly.
Stop spending the full amount on things that you buy. All it takes is five minutes to look up if there are any coupons online, and by doing this you can save a bunch of money whenever you buy anything. Look in magazines, online, or through articles to find coupons.
A great tip for anyone who uses coupons regularly is to keep them organized. Try keeping them in a binder and arrange them in a way that makes sense to you so that you will be able to find any coupon you need at any time with very little effort.
When you start using coupons more regularly, there are a few things you need to know. Hopefully the tips in this article have given you some ideas that will help you save more money than you thought possible. You’re going to find you really enjoy those papers in the mail, you’ll see!
